Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3440 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 125 FILED ON: 1/6/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3440
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Bud L. Williams
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act the Commonwealth housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and
13	13	reconstruction.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bud L. Williams11th Hampden1/6/2025 1 of 18
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 125 FILED ON: 1/6/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3440
19	19	By Representative Williams of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3440) of
20	20	Bud L. Williams relative to housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and
21	21	reconstruction in the Commonwealth. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE HOUSE, NO. 3131 OF 2023-2024.]
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
27	27	(2025-2026)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act the Commonwealth housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and
30	30	reconstruction.
31	31	Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
32	32	address stark racial, social, and economic disparities, therefore it is hereby declared to be an
33	33	emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health.
34	34	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
35	35	of the same, as follows:
36	36	1 SECTION 1. Whereas Black and Latino residents of the Commonwealth have been
37	37	2impacted in ways disproportionate to their respective numbers in the population; and, the
38	38	3disparate impacts of the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 has revealed in stark ways existing social
39	39	4and economic disparities, which Black and Latino residents have endured for far too long; it is
40	40	5the intention of the general court, during the recovery from the pandemic and after, to take
41	41	6meaningful actions to redress said disparities and the social and economic determinants that are
42	42	7at the root of them. To achieve the purposes as stated in this section and sections 2 through 8, 2 of 18
43	43	8inclusive, this Act shall be known as the Commonwealth Housing, Economic, Education and
44	44	9Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction Act or the CHEEERR ACT.
45	45	10 SECTION 2. As used in sections 2 through 13, inclusive, the following words shall,
46	46	11unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:—
47	47	12 “Agencies”, non-profit organizations located and operating within disparately impacted
48	48	13communities with whom the commission may enter into contracts pursuant to section 9 for the
49	49	14operation of corps projects.
50	50	15 “Commission”, the commonwealth corps commission established pursuant to section
51	51	16 “Bureau”, the Massachusetts Bureau on Social and Economic Equity in Recovery and
52	52	17Reconstruction established pursuant to section 3.
53	53	18 “Corps”, the commonwealth housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and
54	54	19reconstruction service corps or CHEEERRS corps established pursuant to section 11.
55	55	20 “Corps members”, individuals who commit to no more than 24 months of full or part-
56	56	21time service in the commonwealth service corps pursuant to section 12.
57	57	22 “Corps projects”, programs established pursuant to this act to satisfy unmet community
58	58	23needs.
59	59	24 “Disparately impacted community”, shall mean (a) a defined geographic area in which
60	60	25Black and Latino residents whose rate of infection for the coronavirus exceeds their
61	61	26proportionate share of the population of said geographic area as of May 1, 2020; or, (b) a
62	62	27medically underserved community or (c) low and moderate income community; or, (c) an
63	63	28educationally disadvantaged community; 3 of 18
64	64	29 “Educationally disadvantaged community”, shall mean a local school district in which the
65	65	30percentage of children attending school in the district eligible for free or reduced cost lunches
66	66	31under eligibility guidelines promulgated by the federal government under 42 USC 1758 exceeds
67	67	32the forty percent;
68	68	33 "Low and moderate income community", a geographic area, within a city or town,
69	69	34consisting of either (a) three or more contiguous census tracts or (b) a zip code or (c) a
70	70	35neighborhood, in which either: (1) a majority of the households are low and moderate income
71	71	36households as defined herein; or (2) the unemployment rate is at least 20 per cent higher than the
72	72	37annual statewide average unemployment rate where such statewide unemployment rate is less
73	73	38than or equal to 5 per cent; provided that, if the annual statewide average unemployment rate is
74	74	39greater than 5 per cent, the community's unemployment rate need only be 10 per cent higher;
75	75	40 "Low and moderate income households", households which have incomes that do not
76	76	41exceed 80 per cent of the median income for the area, with adjustments made for smaller and
77	77	42larger families, as such median shall be determined from time to time by the Secretary of
78	78	43Housing and Urban Development pursuant to 42 USC section 1437(a)(B)(2);
79	79	44 “Medically underserved community”, shall have the same meaning as used pursuant to
80	80	45section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p); and,
81	81	46 “Small business”, shall mean a business (i) owned or controlled by a Black or Latino
82	82	47individual or individuals (ii) whose annual net revenue is less than $5,000,000 and (iii) located in
83	83	48a low or moderate income community. 4 of 18
84	84	49 “Unmet community needs”, needs including, but not limited to, those pertaining to
85	85	50education, public health, public safety, the environment and other human needs in underserved
86	86	51populations in disparately impacted communities in the commonwealth.
87	87	52 SECTION 3. (a) There shall be a Massachusetts bureau on social and economic equity in
88	88	53recovery and reconstruction, in this section and in sections 4 through 15, inclusive, called the
89	89	54bureau. Said bureau shall consist of an administrator and an advisory council, as described in
90	90	55section 15. The administrator shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to paragraph (b), shall
91	91	56serve a term of five years, and shall be removed only for cause. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
92	92	57the administrator shall be eligible for reappointment to an additional five-year term.
93	93	58 (b) The administrator shall be appointed by the governor and shall serve a term of five
94	94	59years; provided that in making said appointment, the governor shall choose the administrator
95	95	60from a list of three candidates presented to the governor from a committee, consisting of seven
96	96	61individuals comprised as follows: one member appointed to be appointed by the governor, two
97	97	62members to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one member to be
98	98	63appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, two members to be appointed
99	99	64by the senate president, and one member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; provided
100	100	65further , that said all said appointments shall be made within thirty days of passage of this Act.
101	101	66 (c) The position of administrator shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five
102	102	67of chapter thirty, and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of
103	103	68said chapter thirty. The administrator shall devote his or her full time during business hours to
104	104	69the duties of the office. 5 of 18
105	105	70 (d) The administrator shall, with the advice of the advisory council, have sole charge of
106	106	71the supervision and administration of the office. The administrator may, subject to fiscal
107	107	72resources available to support the operations of the bureau, employ and remove such assistant
108	108	73administrators and other employees and consultants as administrator may deem necessary to
109	109	74enable the performance of the functions of the bureau; provided that not more than ten percent of
110	110	75said resources shall be expended on staff in any fiscal year. The provisions of chapter thirty-one
111	111	76and section nine A of chapter thirty shall not apply to the administrator or to such assistant
112	112	77administrators and consultants as may be appointed. In making such appointments, the
113	113	78administrator shall hire individuals who reflect the racial, ethnic and gender make-up of
114	114	79disparately impacted communities.
115	115	80 SECTION 4. Subject to the advice of the advisory council, the administrator may apply
116	116	81for and accept on behalf of the commonwealth any federal, local or private grants of money or
117	117	82property, whether real or personal, from any source, whether public or private, bequests, gifts or
118	118	83contributions to aid in the financing of any of the programs or policies of the bureau. Such funds
119	119	84shall be received by the state treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth and deposited in a
120	120	85separate account and shall be expended under the direction of the administrator.
121	121	86 SECTION 5. The bureau, in fulfillment of its purposes, shall have the following duties
122	122	87and functions:
123	123	88 (a) to administer and manage the Commonwealth Health, Economic, Education, and
124	124	89Equity Recovery and Reconstruction Fund, established pursuant to section 2DDDDD of chapter
125	125	9029, and to effectuate the purposes of the bureau as outlined in this section and in sections 4
126	126	91through 14, inclusive. 6 of 18
127	127	92 (b) to identify, analyze, evaluate and monitor public policies, programs, services and
128	128	93regulations promulgated by state agencies (i) in response to recovery efforts pursued in response
129	129	94to the Covid-19 pandemic and (ii) in the course of state agency activity; provided that a
130	130	95particular focus shall be on the affect said policies, programs, services or regulations may have
131	131	96or are likely to have on persons residing in disparately impacted communities. In addition, the
132	132	97bureau shall have the following specific functions:
133	133	98 (i) to identify and recommend to the secretary of housing and community development
134	134	99and to the director of the department of business and technology sources of state, federal and
135	135	100private funds which are available to mitigate, or can be used to mitigate, the disparate access to
136	136	101capital and technical assistance available to small businesses owned or operated by individuals
137	137	102who reside in disparately impacted communities; (ii) to identify and recommend to the
138	138	103undersecretary for housing and community development and public instrumentalities with the
139	139	104department of housing and community development sources of state, federal and private funds
140	140	105which are available to mitigate, or can be used to mitigate, the disparate access to affordable and
141	141	106adequate housing on the part of individuals and households who reside in disparately impacted
142	142	107communities; (iii) to identify and recommend to the commissioner of public health sources of
143	143	108state, federal and private funds which are appropriated or otherwise are available to mitigate, or
144	144	109can be directed to mitigate, existing and emerging disparate incidences of illness and disease
145	145	110experienced by individuals and households who reside in disparately impacted communities;
146	146	111provided that in mitigating such incidences, the commissioner of public health shall expend said
147	147	112monies in a manner proportionate to the prevalence of said diseases and illnesses among racial
148	148	113and ethnic minorities; provided further, that the administrator may consult with the office of
149	149	114health equity as necessary and appropriate to effect the purposes of this subsection; (iv) to 7 of 18
150	150	115identify and recommend to the commissioner of elementary and secondary education sources of
151	151	116state, federal and private funds which are appropriated or otherwise available to mitigate, or can
152	152	117be utilized to mitigate, disparate access to and outcomes in educational instruction and programs
153	153	118experienced by students attending schools in disparately impacted communities;
154	154	119 (c) to set aside an amount not less than fifty million dollars to implement innovative and
155	155	120strategic re-entry programs targeted to returning citizens, as such term is defined in section ___;
156	156	121provided, that in implementing said innovative and strategic re-entry programs, the bureau is
157	157	122hereby authorized to enter into grants, not to exceed five hundred thousand per annum, with
158	158	123nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated track record of assisting returning citizens in
159	159	124integrating back into the community; provided further, that the bureau is hereby authorized to
160	160	125undertake, solely or in conjunction with state agencies, public instrumentalities, municipalities in
161	161	126which disparately impacted communities are located or nonprofits located in disparately
162	162	127impacted communities the following activities:
163	163	128 (i) the development and implementation of family resource and reunification centers in
164	164	129numerous quadrants of a disparately impacted community;
165	165	130 (ii) the development and implementation of community-led or neighborhood based, long-
166	166	131term substance use treatment services dispersed in numerous locations throughout a disparately
167	167	132impacted community;
168	168	133 (iii) the development and implementation of community-led counseling services
169	169	134dispersed in locations throughout a disparately impacted community;
170	170	135 (iv) the development and implementation of transitional to permanent housing for
171	171	136returning citizens; and, 8 of 18
172	172	137 (v) the development and implementation of community-led post incarceration support to
173	173	138replace parole and probation In fulfillment of paragraphs (a) and (b), the bureau is hereby
174	174	139authorized to contract with or provide grant funding to individuals, organizations, corporations,
175	175	140associations or nonprofit organizations located in disparately impacted communities to carry out
176	176	141the purpose and functions of the bureau. In fulfillment of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), the
177	177	142administrator shall establish and promulgate public guidelines to govern contracts and grants.
178	178	143 SECTION 6. In order to fulfill the functions of the bureau such information as the
179	179	144administrator may require from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency
180	180	145shall be made available without delay, upon written request, to any said department, division,
181	181	146board, bureau, commission, or agency of the commonwealth.
182	182	147 SECTION 7. (a) The Commonwealth Health, Economic, Education, and Equity in
183	183	148Recovery and Reconstruction Fund, established pursuant to section DDDDD of chapter 29, shall
184	184	149be within the bureau. The administrator shall oversee the management and activities of the fund
185	185	150either directly or through the appointment of a fund director, to be appointed by the
186	186	151administrator. The bureau, with the advice of the secretary of administration and finance, shall
187	187	152adopt guidelines to implement the fund.
188	188	153 (b) The amounts credited to the fund shall be used to support (i) the activities of the
189	189	154bureau as outlined in sections 3 through 14, inclusive and (ii) new and innovative strategies and
190	190	155efforts to redress disparities in health, economic and educational outcomes by individuals and
191	191	156households residing in disparately impacted communities and may be expended, without further
192	192	157appropriation. To maximize the mitigation of disparate impacts across the policy and program
193	193	158areas, including but not limited to health, economics and education, the administrator may 9 of 18
194	194	159expends such amounts are necessary; provided that the administrator shall not expend, annually,
195	195	160any more than twenty percent of the amount transferred from the Commonwealth Stabilization
196	196	161Fund pursuant to section DDDDD of chapter 29.
197	197	162 (c) Annually, not later than October 1, the administrator shall report to the clerks of the
198	198	163house of representatives and senate and the house and senate committees on ways and means on
199	199	164the fund's activity. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the source and amount of
200	200	165funds received; (ii) the amounts distributed and the purpose of expenditures from the fund; (iii)
201	201	166any grants provided to stakeholder organizations; and (iv) anticipated revenue and expenditure
202	202	167projections for the next year.
203	203	168 SECTION 8. There shall be a designated small business stabilization and support fund
204	204	169within the bureau. The fund shall be administered and managed by a fund director, who shall be
205	205	170appointed by the administrator. The administrator shall adopt guidelines that are necessary to
206	206	171implement the purposes of the fund. The administrator may consult with state agencies, public
207	207	172instrumentalities, community development financial institutions, and other such organizations as
208	208	173the administrator shall deem appropriate in the development of said guidelines. The fund shall be
209	209	174initially capitalized by a transfer of three hundred million dollars from the CCHEERS fund.
210	210	175Money in or received for the fund may be deposited with and invested by an institution
211	211	176designated by the bureau and paid as the fund director shall direct. A return on an investment
212	212	177received by the fund shall be deposited and held for the use and benefit of the fund. The bureau
213	213	178may make payments from a deposit account for use under this section. The bureau shall use the
214	214	179fund to make grants, forgivable loans, low-interest loans or a combination thereof to support the
215	215	180ongoing operations of small businesses located in disparately impacted communities. In
216	216	181determining whether to make a grant, forgivable loan, low-interest loan or a combination thereof, 10 of 18
217	217	182the bureau shall consider whether the action: (i) supports the economic stabilization or expansion
218	218	183of small business; or (ii) promotes the retention or creation of jobs by the small business; (iii)
219	219	184promotes employment opportunities for residents of disparately impacted communities; or, (iv)
220	220	185supports the creation or expansion of a businesses whose success would promote further
221	221	186economic development activity within the disparately impacted community and enhances the
222	222	187quality of life of residents of a disparately impacted community. The bureau shall ensure that not
223	223	188more than fifty million dollars are expended each year to support the making of grants,
224	224	189forgivable loans, low-interest loans or a combination thereof. The maximum amount of any
225	225	190grant, forgivable loan, low-interest loan or combination thereof shall not exceed one million
226	226	191dollars. The bureau shall include an annual summary of activities as part of the report due
227	227	192annually pursuant to paragraph (c) of section 7. The summary shall include each grant, loan,
228	228	193forgivable loan, low-interest loan or combination thereof made during the preceding calendar
229	229	194year and an assessment of the impact each grant, loan, forgivable loan, low-interest loan or
230	230	195combination thereof.
231	231	196 SECTION 9. (a) There is established a special fund called the incarceration to
232	232	197incorporation entrepreneurship fund, which shall be a segregated fund within the designated
233	233	198small business stabilization and support fund, and which shall be administered by a deputy fund
234	234	199director to be appointed by the administrator.
235	235	200 (b) The incarceration to incorporation entrepreneurship fund shall initially be capitalized
236	236	201by a transfer of fifty million dollars from the designated small business stabilization and support
237	237	202fund; provided, that the following sources of funds may be deposited into the incarceration to
238	238	203incorporation entrepreneurship fund: (1) any funds appropriated by the legislature for the 11 of 18
239	239	204purposes of this section and section 10; (2) donations from the public; (3) donations from private
240	240	205entities; and (4) any funds provided through a sponsorship agreement.
241	241	206 (c) Monies in the incarceration to incorporation entrepreneurship fund shall be used to
242	242	207implement, operate, and administer the incarceration to incorporation entrepreneurship program
243	243	208 established pursuant to section 10.
244	244	209 SECTION 10. (a) There is established within the bureau an incarceration to incorporation
245	245	210entrepreneurship program, herein after “the program,” a business development program for
246	246	211returning citizens, which shall be operated by the bureau and whose functions are to:
247	247	212 (1) provide technical assistance and business development training to returning citizens
248	248	213who are seeking to operate or are already operating a business enterprise to be located within a
249	249	214disparately impacted community; provided that said technical assistance and business
250	250	215development training shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
251	251	216 (A) Accounting;
252	252	217 (B) Finance;
253	253	218 (C) Business management;
254	254	219 (D) Business planning;
255	255	220 (E) Budgeting;
256	256	221 (F) Marketing;
257	257	222 (G) Business law; 12 of 18
258	258	223 (H) Accessing startup capital, and other business startup topics as identified by the U.S.
259	259	224small business administration and certified community development financial institutions;
260	260	225 (I) Estimating if the business enterprise is engaged in the construction industry; and,
261	261	226 (J) Technology training;
262	262	227 (2) provide micro-investments, in the form of grants, in an amount not to exceed fifty
263	263	228thousand dollars, to assist returning citizens in the development and operation of a business
264	264	229enterprise to be located within a disparately impacted community;
265	265	230 (3) provide ongoing mentorship and support; and
266	266	231 (4) Provide monthly networking meetings with business leaders, such as:
267	267	232 (A) business owners;
268	268	233 (B) representatives of financial institutions;
269	269	234 (B) angel investors; and
270	270	235 (C) heads of venture capital and investment firms; and
271	271	236 (b) For the purposes of implementing this section, the bureau shall confer with other
272	272	237agencies, organizations, and individuals, including but not limited to, (1) the office of small
273	273	238business and entrepreneurship, (2) the small business development center, (3) the Black
274	274	239economic council of Massachusetts, (4) the Hispanic chamber of commerce, (5) the Latino
275	275	240chamber of commerce, (6) the greater new england minority supplier development council, (7)
276	276	241the center for women and enterprise, and any other relevant agency or organization that the
277	277	242bureau consider necessary to meet the objectives of this section. 13 of 18
278	278	243 (c) For the purposes of this section, the term "returning citizen" means an individual who
279	279	244is within six months of release, or has been released, from a local jail, county house of
280	280	245corrections or a department of corrections facility and who resides in a disparately impacted
281	281	246community.
282	282	247 (d) The bureau shall include an annual summary of activities as part of the report due
283	283	248annually pursuant to paragraph (c) of section 7. The summary shall include: (1) the number of
284	284	249businesses formed and launched by program participants; (a) The number of businesses formed
285	285	250by program participants that have sustained operations through the production of the annual
286	286	251summary, (3) the number of business enterprises owned and operated by returning citizens and
287	287	252whom the program has provided technical assistance and business development training, and (4)
288	288	253any other information the bureau deems pertinent to evaluating the program; provided that
289	289	254program participants may expressly authorize that their anonymity be preserved in the annual
290	290	255summary.
291	291	256 SECTION 11. (a) There shall be a commonwealth housing, economic, education and
292	292	257equity in recovery and reconstruction service corps to be composed of a limited number of
293	293	258carefully selected men and women, not younger than 17 years of age and not older than 26 years
294	294	259of age, recruited from disparately impacted communities, to be made available for a limited time
295	295	260for projects directed toward satisfying unmet community needs.
296	296	261 (b) The corps shall be governed by a commission, which shall be within the bureau,
297	297	262consisting of the administrator of the bureau and 14 members to be appointed by the governor; 1
298	298	263of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association; 1 of whom shall be a
299	299	264member of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO; 2 of whom shall be members chosen from two local 14 of 18
300	300	265chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Persons, 2 of whom shall
301	301	266be members chosen from local affiliates of the National Urban League, 1 of whom shall be a
302	302	267member chosen from a Community Health Centers, 1 of whom shall be a member chosen by the
303	303	268Massachusetts Senior Action Council, 2 of whom shall be members chosen by the Massachusetts
304	304	269Association for Community Action, 2 of whom shall be members chosen from two community
305	305	270development corporations, and 2 of whom shall be individuals with expertise in the educational,
306	306	271training, and development needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth; Each member shall
307	307	272serve for a term of 3 years and shall serve without compensation. A person appointed to fill a
308	308	273vacancy in the office of a member of the board shall be appointed in a like manner and shall
309	309	274 serve for only the unexpired term of such member. A member shall be eligible for
310	310	275reappointment. A chairman of the commission shall be elected annually from the membership.
311	311	276The bureau shall provide administrative support to the commission as requested.
312	312	277 (c) The duties of the commission shall include, but not be limited to: (i) contracting with
313	313	278agencies to administer service projects to address unmet community needs by recruiting corps
314	314	279members; (ii) reviewing and approving the commonwealth corps plan and annual updates
315	315	280prepared by each agency; and reviewing each agency’s performance in carrying out its
316	316	281responsibilities pursuant to this act. Each agency the commission contracts with shall be a
317	317	282nonprofit organization incorporated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 180 of the General
318	318	283Laws for the operation of corps projects.
319	319	284 SECTION 12. (a) Corps members shall be residents of disparately impacted communities
320	320	285who are not younger than 17 years of age and not older than 26 years of age. Corps members
321	321	286shall be the responsibility of each contracted agency. Corps members shall undertake meaningful 15 of 18
322	322	287service projects addressing unmet community needs in areas including, but not limited to, the
323	323	288environment, education, health and basic human services and may serve full or part-time; but,
324	324	289members having direct contact with minor children or vulnerable adults shall be required to pass
325	325	290a background check.
326	326	291 (b) Each contracted agency shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that corps members are
327	327	292placed in corps projects that match their interests, skills and abilities. The contracted agency may
328	328	293prescribe additional standards and procedures in consultation with the commission. Each
329	329	294contracted agency may enroll individuals who choose to defer a stipend to serve as a corps
330	330	295member. Each contracted agency shall seek to enroll individuals who are economically,
331	331	296ethnically, socially, physically or educationally diverse.
332	332	297 (c) A corps member shall not be subject to chapter 31 or section 9A of chapter 30 of the
333	333	298General Laws. Corps members shall not be considered to be an employee of the commonwealth
334	334	299entitled to the benefit of chapter 152 of the General Laws, nor shall a corps member be
335	335	300considered to be an employee of the commonwealth for any other purpose.
336	336	301 SECTION 13. (a) Each contracted agency shall, without limitation and subject to a duly
337	337	302executed contract with the commission, administer the corps and in so doing shall: (1) provide
338	338	303the personnel necessary to satisfy its obligations pursuant to the contract with the commission;
339	339	304 (2) function as or recruit corps sponsors; (3) compensate each corps member via a stipend
340	340	305that has the value equivalent to fifteen dollar per hour worked, whether a corps member performs
341	341	306on a full-time or part-time basis, (4) initiate studies and analyses of proposed and implemented
342	342	307service and volunteer projects, which will aid in addressing local problems; (5) recommend
343	343	308expansion of corps opportunities to address all unmet community needs; (6) identify the criteria 16 of 18
344	344	309it will use to recruit individuals to serve as corps members (7) establish procedures for matching
345	345	310and placing corps members with corps projects; and (8) establish personnel policies and
346	346	311procedures for corps members.
347	347	312 (b) In entering into a contract with an agency, the commission shall give projects meeting
348	348	313the following criteria preference: (1) projects addressing a well-established unmet community
349	349	314need or unmet community needs; (2) projects articulating measurable goals, including an
350	350	315assessment of the impact on the corps members and on the targeted community; (3) projects not
351	351	316using corps members to replace previously budgeted positions or to reduce overtime, hours of
352	352	317work or opportunities for advancement for employees or members of corps sponsors; and (4)
353	353	318direct service projects that give corps members opportunities to provide direct services
354	354	319addressing unmet community needs including, but not limited to, tutoring or mentoring,
355	355	320providing health care education, providing services to individuals, families, seniors, homeless
356	356	321populations, enhancing historic, cultural, and natural resources of the commonwealth, engaging
357	357	322in environmental restoration projects, or enhancing emergency preparedness and response.
358	358	323 SECTION 14. There shall be a Commonwealth Housing, Economic, Education and
359	359	324Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction Service Corps Fund within the bureau. The fund shall be
360	360	325administered and managed by a fund director, who shall be appointed by the administrator. The
361	361	326fund shall be established and utilized to support the work of the commission and to support the
362	362	327costs of contracts entered into by the commission with agencies for the purposes of section 11
363	363	328through 13, inclusive. The fund shall be initially capitalized by a transfer of one hundred million
364	364	329dollars from the CCHEERS fund. Money in or received for the fund may be deposited with and
365	365	330invested by an institution designated by the bureau and paid as the fund director shall direct. A 17 of 18
366	366	331return on an investment received by the fund shall be deposited and held for the use and benefit
367	367	332of the fund.
368	368	333 SECTION 15. The advisory council of the bureau shall consist of fifteen persons
369	369	334qualified by training, experience, or demonstrated interest in the health, economic and
370	370	335educational inequities or disparities, to be appointed by the governor as follows:— five for a
371	371	336term of three years, five for a term of two years, and five for a term of one year. Upon expiration
372	372	337of the term of any appointive member, said member’s successor shall be appointed in like
373	373	338manner for a term of three years. The governor shall in like manner fill any vacancy for the
374	374	339remainder of the unexpired term. Said members of the advisory council shall elect a person to
375	375	340serve as chair and the advisory council shall meet at least quarterly. Members shall serve without
376	376	341compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of
377	377	342their duties. If any member is absent from two regularly scheduled quarterly meetings in any one
378	378	343calendar year, said member shall be determined to have vacated the member’s appointment to
379	379	344the council. The chair of the council shall forthwith notify the governor that such vacancy exists.
380	380	345Said advisory council shall advise the administrator on any matter within the jurisdiction of said
381	381	346bureau and shall advise the administrator in establishing priorities for bureau activities; and
382	382	347annually review the programs, budgets and policies of the bureau.
383	383	348 SECTION 16. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
384	384	349Section 2CCCCC the following new section:
385	385	350 Section 2DDDDD. There shall be established and set up on the books of the
386	386	351commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Commonwealth Covid-19 Health Economic
387	387	352Education Equity in Recovery Fund. The fund shall be credited with: (i) a transfer, to be made by 18 of 18
388	388	353the Comptroller, of eight hundred and fifty million dollars from the Commonwealth Stabilization
389	389	354Fund, (ii) revenue from appropriations or other money authorized by the general court and
390	390	355specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (iii) interest earned on such revenues; and (iv)
391	391	356funds from public and private sources such as gifts, grants and donations to further civics and
392	392	357history education and professional development. Amounts credited to the fund shall not be
393	393	358subject to further appropriation and any money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year
394	394	359shall not revert to the General Fund.
395	395	360 SECTION 17. Notwithstanding and general or special law to the contrary, this act shall
396	396	361take effect immediately.